Here's the thing I want to share about Pedro. He wasn't fearless. He was completely human. But he had more honor and courage than fear, and that propelled him to do some of the bravest things I ever saw in this business. 1 https://twitter.com/TJQuinnESPN/status/1358646653864017923

A lot of people are talking about the legendary column he wrote about Curt Schilling before Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Pedro was the lead columnist at the Arizona Republic, and with all due respect to my friends there, it isn't the sort of market where fans want to read 2

about what a selfish jerk the starter is when he can win them their first world series. Pedro didn't write the piece because of any personal beef: Schilling had thrown manager Bob Brenly under the bus that week and deserved to be shredded. 3

He had told me he was going to write it because it needed to be said, and he knew what he risked from readers and the players themselves. The column ran the next day and it was... not well received. 4

When I got to the press box that afternoon he called me over. "Listen to this," he said. He played some of the racist excrement that some "fans" had left on his voicemail and made a brilliant and unrepeatable joke about how they had gotten his nationality wrong. 5

But I'm telling you, it bothered him. He hated that stuff. But he also didn't regret writing it. Then he said, "I need to go down there now, don't I." It was more statement than question. I asked if he wanted me to go with him and he said yes. 6

So we went down to the field during early BP and walked the length of foul territory from one side to the other, just strolling so that he could be accountable to any fan, coach or player who had something to say. 7

As we passed the DBacks' dugout, one of the pitchers, in uniform, walked to the top of the steps and caught eyes with Pedro. The player extended his hand and then shook Pedro's hand firmly and slowly, while smiling and nodding. Then he turned and went back to the clubhouse. 8

Pedro turned to me. "Did you see that?!" Yes. Schilling would take his shots at Pedro over the years, but Pedro had the respect of everybody in that clubhouse. As much for the fact that he went down to that field as the fact he wrote it in the first place. 9